Caryopteris Plant Named &#39;Novacaryfou&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Caryopteris  plant is provided which is the product of a controlled breeding program followed by selection. Large vibrant violet-blue flowers in a verticillaster arrangement are formed on a substantially uniform basis. The growth habit is rounded ascending with strong branching. Attractive large glossy dark green foliage is formed. The plant is well suited for providing attractive colorful ornamentation in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Caryopteris hybrida/Blue Mist Shrub

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Novacaryfou

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Caryopteris plants commonly are recognized to be a member of theLaminaceae family and are sometimes identified by the Blue Mist andBluebeard common names.

A new Caryopteris hybrida plant of the present invention was formed atWest Grove, Pa., U.S.A., by artificial pollination wherein two parentswere crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that theywould contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e.,the seed parent) was the Caryopteris×clandonensis ‘Durio’ variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 16,913). Such female parent sometimes bears the PINKCHABLIS designation. The male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was aCaryopteris tangutica plant (non-patented in the United States) which isunderstood to be native of China. The parentage of the new plant can besummarized as follows:

$\overset{{}_{}^{}{}_{}^{}}{{Caryopteris} \times {clandonensis}} \times {Caropteris}\mspace{14mu} {{tangutica}.}$

The seeds resulting from the pollination were sown and small plants wereobtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new variety.

It has been found that the new Coryopteris plant of the presentinvention displays the following combination of characteristics:

(a) displays a rounded ascending growth habit with strong branching,

(b) forms large vibrant violet-blue flowers in a verticillasterarrangement,

(c) displays attractive large glossy dark green foliage, and

(d) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in thelandscape.

The new plant of the present invention can be grown to advantage toprovide distinctive colorful ornamentation in parks and gardens.

The new plant can be readily distinguished from its ancestors and allother Caryopteris plants known to its originator. More specifically, the‘Durio’ female parent displays a smaller plant size and forms pinkflowers. Caryopteris tangutica plants typically form lighter greenleaves having a narrower width. The new variety can be distinguishedfrom the ‘Arthur Simmons’ variety (non-patented in the United States)through the display by the new variety of sturdier branches, moreuniform flowering, and the presence of large glossy dark green foliage.Also, the new variety can be readily distinguished from the ‘Inoveris’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,837) by the display by the new varietyof a larger more rounded growth habit. Such ‘Inoveris’ variety is beingmarketed under the GRAND BLEU trademark.

Asexual reproduction of the new plant at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.,through the use of terminal cuttings has demonstrated that thedistinctive characteristics are reliably transmitted from one generationto another. Accordingly, the new plant can be asexually reproduced in atrue-to-type manner. The plant readily can be asexually reproduced viasoftwood and semi-hardwood cuttings.

The new plant has been named ‘Novacaryfou’ and will be marketed underthe BLUE FOUNTAIN trademark

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, atypical specimen of the new variety. A plant at an age of approximatelyone year is shown while growing in the ground outdoors at West Grove,Pa., U.S.A. The plant had been asexually reproduced through the use ofsemi-hardwood cuttings and was growing in full sun. The photograph wasobtained during September 2010.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new plant of the presentinvention which generally was prepared while observing one-year-oldplants growing in the ground outdoors in natural light during September2011 at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. Color terminology is in accordance withthe R.H.S. Colour Chart (1995 or equivalent) of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except when general color terms which are tobe accorded their customary dictionary significance are used.

-   Type: Herbaceous perennial for garden decoration and general    landscape usage.-   Botanical classification: Caryopteris hybrida.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—ascending, and generally rounded at the top.        -   Height.—approximately 4 feet.        -   Width.—approximately 4 feet.        -   Branching.—strong.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—decussate.        -   Length.—approximately 8.4 cm on average.        -   Width.—approximately 5.6 cm on average.        -   Shape.—lanceolate.        -   Apex.—acute.        -   Base.—rounded.        -   Venation.—pinnipalmate.        -   Margin.—serrate.        -   Texture.—bears some short pubescence.        -   Color.—upper surface: near Green Group 137A. under surface:            near Green Group 137C.        -   Petiole.—length: approximately 1.5 cm on average. diameter:            approximately 3 mm on average. texture: bears some short            pubescence. color (upper surface): near Green Group 137D.            color (under surface): near Yellow-Green Group 145A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering season.—August to first frost.        -   Arrangement.—verticillaster.        -   Lastingness of blooms.—commonly approximately two days.        -   Fragrance.—none detected.        -   Buds.—shape: ovoid. — length: approximately 5 mm on average.            — width: approximately 3 mm on average. — color: near            Violet-Blue Group 90A when tight.        -   Flowers.—shape: zygomorphic with bilabiate petal            arrangement. — diameter: approximately 5 mm on average. —            depth: approximately 1 cm for total flower length. — funnel            length: approximately 7 mm at opening. — texture: commonly            with some short pubescence on the outside. — petal number:            five with four petals being fused to form an upper lip and            one larger elongated petal on the lower lip thereby forming            a funnel-shaped structure. — petal length: approximately 8            mm for the four fused petals on the upper lip, and            approximately 1.1 cm for the larger elongated petal on the            lower lip. — petal width: approximately 7 mm on average for            all petals. — petal apex: the four fused petals on the upper            lip each have a aristulate apex, and the larger elongated            petal on the lower lip commonly has a fringed border having            a length of approximately 4 mm. — petal base: all petals are            fused at the base. — petal margin: entire for four fused            petals on the upper lip, and fringed for the elongated petal            on the lower lip as previously indicated. — petal texture:            all petals are glabrous. — petal color (inside throat): near            Violet-Blue Group 90B. — petal color (outside throat): near            Violet-Blue Group 90D. — stamen number: four per flower. —            stamen disposition: exserted. — filament length:            approximately 1 cm on average. — filament diameter:            approximately 0.1 mm on average. — filament color: near            Violet-Blue Group 89B. — anther shape: bi-lobed. — anther            length: approximately 0.5 mm. — anther diameter:            approximately 0.2 mm. — anther color: near Violet-Blue Group            98B. — pollen: no pollen detected during observations to            date. — pistil number: one per flower. — pistil length:            approximately 1.4 cm. — pistil disposition: erect. — style            length: approximately 1.1 cm. — style diameter:            approximately 0.2 mm. — style color: Violet Group 84A. —            stigma shape: bifid. — stigma length: approximately 1 mm. —            stigma color: Violet Group 84A. — ovary color: Yellow-Green            Group 145A. — fruit/seeds: none detected during observations            to date.        -   Sepals.—number five fused to form a calyx tube. — length:            approximately 5 mm. — width: approximately 3 mm. — apex:            acute. — base: fused. — margin: entire. — texture: commonly            bear short pubescence. — color (upper surface): when fully            open Yellow-Green Group 147B overlaid with Violet Group 90A.            — color (under surface): when fully open Yellow-Green Group            147B overlaid with Violet Group 90A.        -   Peduncle.—length: approximately 3 mm. — diameter:            approximately 0.5 mm. — color: near Green Group 138C.-   Development:    -   -   Tolerance to diseases.—during observations to date the plant            is believed to be typical of the genus.        -   Resistance to pests.—during observations to date the plant            is believed to be typical of the genus.        -   Hardiness.—has been observed to be hardy in U.S.D.A.            Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 9.

Plants of the new ‘Novacaryfou’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Caryopteris plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) displays a rounded ascending growthhabit with strong branching, (b) forms large vibrant violet-blue flowersin a verticillaster arrangement, (c) displays attractive large glossydark green foliage, and (d) is well suited for providing attractivecolorful ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as illustratedand described.